DR. FAY’S SERMON

AT THE

FUNERAL OF DR. TTESNER,

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A

SERMON,

DELIVERED AT THE FUNERAL

OF THE

KEY. BENJAMIN B. WISNER, D. D.

ONE OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMIS¬ SIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, AND FORMERLY PAS¬ TOR OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON.

BY WARREN FAY, D. D.

Pastor of the First Church in Charlestown,

BOSTON :

PRINTED BY CROCKER AND BREWSTER, 47 Washington Street.

1835.

The following- discourse, necessarily prepared in great haste, is with much diffidence submitted to the public, at the united request of the Old South Church and Society in Boston, and the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions — and as a tribute to the memory of his lamented friend and brother, By the Author.

SERMON.

Psalm xxxix. 9.

I was dumb , I opened not my mouth , because thou didst it .

When unexpected and peculiar trials come upon us? we are naturally led to look for some source of conso¬ lation, some ground of solace. The devout Psalmist in such circumstances fixed his eye on the govern¬ ment of God, and uttered his deep emotions in the language of the text. The whole psalm teaches us, that he was in deep affliction; but what his peculiar trials were, it may not be easy to determine. It is probable, however, that he was pouring out his lamen¬ tations over the untimely end of a beloved son. It is very apparent, that his submission was put to the test, that his faith was tried; and also that his heart was fixed, trusting in God.

His unwavering resolution was, that no repining thought should lodge in his mind; that no murmuring word should escape his lips; and that beholders should find no occasion from his impatience in the furnace of affliction, to reproach the religion he professed, or the God he served. While he prayed for divine support in adversity, while he desired to maintain a deep and

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habitual impression of the shortness and uncertainty of life, and while he fervently besought the Lord to deliver him from all his transgressions, — he sat down in silent and calm submission under the pressure of his trials, from the consideration that they came from the hand, and wisdom, and benevolence of God. “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.” His submission was cordial; — it was the result of unshaken confidence in the rectitude of the divine government, and exhibits the nature of true submission in adversity.

The text obviously teaches us, in the first place, to regard afflictions as ordered by the wise providence of God. “I was dumb, because thou didst it.”

The doctrine that the providence of God is both universal and particular, that it extends to all events, that nothing comes to pass without the divine control or permission, is established in the plainest manner in scripture. It is a truth, which results from the perfections and government of Jehovah, admitted in almost any sense. If there be a general, it undeni¬ ably follows, that there must be a particular provi¬ dence. If God governs the world at all, he must direct, not only great events, but the smaller, on which the great depend; he must direct and control all events without exception.

If for example God intended the Philistines should

flee before the Israelites, when Goliah was slain, he

must direct to the sling and the stone, which slew

him. If he intended to raise the darling; of Jacob’s

©

heart to the throne of Egypt, and render him instru¬ mental of preserving, not only the whole kingdom of Egypt, but also the whole nation of Israel amidst

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seven years of famine, he must direct all the events, which conspired to raise him to this elevated situation. If he intended to employ the agency of Moses in leading forth the chosen tribes from their task mas¬ ters, and out of a land of bondage, he must guide and preserve the little ark in which he lay near the banks of the Nile, and direct the tear, which flowed down the cheek of this lovely, unprotected babe, and in¬ duced the daughter of Pharaoh to adopt him for her own son; an act which could not have been tolerated in any other person in the kingdom.

Yes, my brethren, if it were possible for a spar¬ row to fall to the ground without the control of our heavenly Father; indeed if it were possible, that any event should transpire beyond the restraint of the divine government, the whole chain of divine provi¬ dence would be broken, and Jehovah would be liable at any moment to be arrested or disappointed in the progress of his plans and the execution of his benevo¬ lent pleasure by events not under his control — by the caprice of accident. Deny a particular, and you must, to be consistent, deny a general providence. Admit that one event may fake place without the divine direction or permission, and you may another, and another, until you destroy the providence of God, frustrate all his benevolent designs, and subvert his government.

But if his providence be particular, as well as universal, extending to the hilling of a sparrow, and numbering the hairs of our head, it must be obvious, that it extends to all our various disappointments and diversified afflictions. It must be obvious, that * no afflictions come forth from the dust, but from the

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divine hand; that no trouble springs out of the ground, but is of divine appointment. The providence of God is not to be excluded from any event; for “Jehovah ruleth over all.” Job sinned not with his lips, when he inquired, “What, shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.”

The text also teaches us, in the second place , that because our afflictions are ordered by the wise provi¬ dence of God, we should exercise unreserved sub¬ mission.

“I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.” We should consider, that God knows when and how to afflict us. He knows when it is best to take our dearest earthly comforts from us, and which to re¬ move, and which to continue. He knows also the exact measure of affliction, with which it is best we should be visited. Were it left to us or to our friends to mete out our trials, they would be in measure so small, and under circumstances so alleviating, they would scarcely be felt. Were our afflictions under the control of our enemies, they might be so multi¬ plied, that we should sink under their pressure. But it is our consolation to know, that they are meted out by him, who knows just how much correction his children need, and when it will produce the best effect, and answer the most valuable purposes. Our afflictions therefore can never be ill timed, or unduly proportioned. If God seem to lay his hand upon our dearest earthly comforts, and multiply our sorrows, as though he were about to strip us of blessings, it

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mast be right and best. His knowledge embraces all the circumstances of our grief, and all the re¬ sults.

We should consider also, that God is righteous, and merciful, and paternal in all the afflictions, with which we are visited.

That he is righteous appears from the fact, that he treats us better than we deserve. However numerous and severe may be our trials, however great the pres¬ sure of our sorrows, they never in the present life surpass our ill deserts. Consider the innumerable mercies bestowed on us, for which we have never offered one grateful emotion to our divine benefactor; — consider how little we have thought of him, who has preserved us every moment of our existence; how much we have sinned against him, who has always done us good; how often we have slighted him, who died for our salvation; and then contrast our afflictions with our ill desert, and say, — is not God righteous in all the afflictions he sends upon us?

Let it also be remembered, that Jehovah is not only righteous, but merciful in our afflictions. He not only does not afflict us beyond our deserts, but his severest chastisements are far less than our sins. Although we are prone to overlook our mercies in the midst of our sorrows, yet a little reflection would con¬ vince us, that the former vastly exceed the latter. Does God remove from us one or more of our dearest earthly comforts? How many does he still continue in our possession! Does he take from us blessings we have long enjoyed? How many new blessings does he confer! It is because the catalogue of our afflictions is enumerated so often, and multiplied so

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indefinitely by our idolizing and repining hearts, and the catalogue of our blessings is never fully made out, and so seldom recounted with gratitude, that we do not often even in the depths of calamity exclaim, “O Lord, how great are thy mercies, and how great is the sum of them?”

God is also paternal in the afflictions with which he visits his people. “Whom the Lord loveth he chas- teneth, and scourgeth every son, whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chas- teneth not.” All the afflictions of the righteous ac¬ cording to a divine promise work together for their good, and thus become mercies in disguise. “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The piety of men often shines the brightest in adversity. ‘How could we have known so much of the fidelity of Abraham, the meekness of Moses, the patience of Job, the ardor of David, the tender¬ ness of Jeremiah, the boldness of Daniel, and the self-denial of Paul, had they not been cast into the furnace of affliction!’

It is also by afflictions, that God trains up the righteous for glory. “It is through much tribulation, we must enter the kingdom of heaven.” It is by trials, that the pious are often humbled, and subdued, and weaned from earth, and led to live for heaven. Only let us cordially believe, that all our afflictions are ordered by the wise and benevolent providence of God, and under them all we may be silent and sub¬ missive.

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This subject, as explained, presents the only proper ground of cordial submission. It is the universality and benevolence of the divine government. Search through second causes; — look over the universe, and you cam aft find no other ground of cordial resignation in all the circumstances of human life, or in any of them. — -Do you imagine that the hope, that all afflic¬ tions will promote your personal happiness, is genuine submission? But this is no subordination to the divine will; it is simply complacency in your own personal in¬ terest and happiness. It is also to be considered, that there are many adverse events, with respect to which you must be unable to discern how they can be favora¬ ble to your interests; and you have no promise that they will work together for your good, until you are cordially submissive.

Do you think it a proper ground of submission, that you cannot avoid the afflictions with which you are visited? This has not a single feature of chris- tian resignation. It is only the non-resistance of the disobedient, chastened servant, who receives the lash, instead of slaying his master, because the latter he cannot do.

Does the sympathy and kindness of friends in affliction furnish any suitable ground of submission? Such sympathy is indeed a great alleviation of grief; and many of us know its consoling influences from experience. But this alone cannot sustain the droop¬ ing spirits, nor reach the deep sorrows of the heart, nor bear up the desponding soul, when sinking amidst the waves of trouble. — No, Christian friends, there is no other ground of true submission, when the heart is

bleeding at every pore with the wounds which a right-

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eous Providence hath inflicted, than that God has done it. It is the chastisement of our heavenly Father, and he knows what is best; — he cannot err; — he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.

This is the ground of our submission, and falfre source of our consolation, in view of the painful bereavement which has hung this pulpit in mourning, and filled our hearts with grief. The event which has convened us this day, and made this sanctuary a Bochim, was most sudden and unexpected, most mysterious and overwhelming. An affectionate and beloved husband, a devoted and faithful minister, a wise and safe coun¬ sellor, an active and efficient officer of one of our most important benevolent institutions, a great and a good man, whose praise was in all the churches, — - has fallen in our Israel. In the midst of his days and usefulness he is cut down, and sleeps in death. In the bursting forth of our emotions, which we have no language to express, we cannot but lift up our eyes to heaven, and exclaim, “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men,”

I am aware, that I shall be expected on the present occasion, summarily to delineate the character of the deceased; — a task to which I feel utterly inade¬ quate, not because I did not know him well, but be¬ cause his many excellencies could much better be seen, than described; and because many pleasing traits of his character developed themselves to the observer, and especially the intimate friend, which cannot be delineated.

The Rev. Benjamin Blydenburg Wisner was born September 29th, 1794, in Goshen, Orange

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county, New York; where his father resided until this his eldest son was three years old, when he re¬ moved to Geneva, Ontario County. Both his parents were professors of religion. His father, Polydore B. Wisner, was one of the first settlers of that now populous and flourishing village; and one of the found¬ ers of the Presbyterian church there, now large and efficient. Of this church he was an active and useful member to the close of his life. He was a lawyer, and for several years previous to his decease, District Attorney for the western part of New York. He died at the age of 44 years, when his son, whose re¬ mains are now before us, was only 20 years old. He was returning from a tour of official duty, and 20 miles distant from his home, was seized with a violent disease, which speedily proved fatal.

Parental religious instructions made salutary im¬ pressions on the mind of this son in early life, which were never wholly effaced. His youthful days were spent in his father’s family; and when not engaged in his studies, he was active in agricultural pursuits, and took much delight in this kind of laborious toil. He used in after life to ascribe his early physical vigor and his power to make continued mental effort, to the industry, activity, and labor of his youth; and he has often mentioned this happy experiment to those who were about commencing, or were in the incipient stages of a liberal education. He pursued his studies preparatory to a collegiate course chiefly under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Axtell, then pastor of the church in Geneva. He entered the sophomore class of Union College, in Schenectady, in September 1810, at the age of 16. He was diligent and successful in

12

his studies, amiable and moral in his deportment, and attentive to all the laws of the institution. While a member of college, he was never reproved for a fault, nor marked for absence from any duty or exercise. — It was at this period he strengthened and confirmed his habits of order, diligence, punctuality, and labo- riousness, which never forsook him in after life. And it was in this way he laid the foundation for those useful attainments, and that promptness to do what should be done at the present time, which were so prominent in his subsequent history. He sustained a high standing in college, and exerted an extensive influence; and had the second part at his graduation, which was in 1813.

The next year he spent as preceptor of the acad¬ emy at Johnstown, which was then a flourishing institution. The following year he was occupied in settling his father’s estate, and supplied in many respects his father’s place in the care of the family. He had a natural love of manual labor quite uncom¬ mon, which induced him again to resume agricultural pursuits; and often have I heard him speak of this year of chosen toil, as one of pleasure and advantage to himself. He valued much, as he had reason to do, that vigor to toil, and that cheerful readiness to engage in any difficult enterprise, which were the result of his early training and habits.

While at Geneva he was appointed to the office of tutor in his Alma Mater, where he performed the duties of an instructor from the autumn of 1815 to the close of the collegiate year of 1818. — As a tutor he was diligent and successful, and constant and thorough in his instructions. He has often told me that he

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found much advantage in what the worthy president told him was a law for the officers of that institution, “never to be angry but by rule.”

After he became a member of Union College, his religious impressions were revived and deepened, and without any thing very marked in his religious exer¬ cises, he indulged a hope of cordial reconciliation to his Maker. In the early part of 1816, while he was tutor in College, he joined the Presbyterian church in Schenectady, and commenced the study of Theology under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Yates, then a profes¬ sor in the College. While an officer of college, our lamented friend was active in promoting the cause of his Redeemer, and in connection with a fellow tutor, collected a small congregation of colored people, which they addressed every Saturday evening; and on Sabbath morning they met them for the purpose of imparting sabbath school instruction.

He left his office in college, and became a mem¬ ber of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, in November 1818. While a student there he held frequent meetings for the instruction and benefit of the destitute in the neighboring towns. He was diligent and laborious almost to a proverb. During his two years residence in that seminary he copied, for his own use, Dr. Livingston’s system of divinity, Dr. Alexander’s lectures on polemic and didactic theology and pastoral duty, and Dr. Miller’s lectures on ecclesiastical history. He was also an active superintendent of a sabbath school in Princeton, and in all his subsequent visits to that place has been af¬ fectionately greeted by his former sabbath pupils. In June 1820 he was licensed to preach the gospel, and

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daring that summer preached as a candidate to the Presbyterian church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and received a unanimous invitation to become their pastor. In the same summer, while yet a member of the theological institution, he received a request to preach as a candidate to the Old South Church and Society in Boston. With this request he complied, when he left the seminary in September 1820; and re¬ ceived an invitation to become their pastor in Novem¬ ber of the same year. He was soon after married to Miss Sarah H. Johnson of Johnstown, in the state of New York.

He was introduced into the pastoral office in this sanctuary, February 21, 1821. He sustained the pas¬ toral care of this ancient and numerous church about twelve years; — and in consequence of his being ap¬ pointed to the important office, which he held at his de¬ cease, was dismissed at his own request in November, 1832. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Union College, in the year 1828. Soon after his settlement here he was called to take an active and effi¬ cient part in the management of our most important benevolent institutions; — and was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Education Socie¬ ty, and of the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and also one of the Trustees of the Theological Seminary at Andover, up to the close of life.

While in the ministry here he had several invita¬ tions to occupy other important spheres of usefulness. He was elected professor of ecclesiastical history and pastoral care in the Theological Seminary at Andover, which, after much consultation and prayer, he thought it his duty to decline. He loved the min-

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istry; — he loved his people;— he loved his associates and his diversified labors in this part of his Lord’s vineyard; — and most of all, he loved to do his Master’s will, which he thought required him to retain his pas¬ toral office.

His health began to decline a year previous to his dis¬ mission, and in February 1832 he repaired to a south¬ ern climate for the recovery of his health, and return¬ ed to this city the last of June; — but not sufficiently restored to enable him to resume his pastoral duties. He spent the summer in Connecticut, and his health continued gradually to improve. At the annual meet¬ ing of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in the City of New York, October, 1332, he was elected one of the three secretaries, to whom the correspondence of the Board was at that time assigned. He returned to this city in October, still in feeble health, and preached one sermon to his beloved people.

The question whether he should leave the pastoral office, and a flock over which he had watched twelve years with affectionate solicitude, was to him of deep and tender interest. He made it a question of duty, a subject of much prayer, and of much serious consul¬ tation. His friends at home and abroad were fully aware that his habits of business, his extensive ac¬ quaintance with the different portions of the Christian church in the United States, his thorough knowledge of the concerns of the Board, having been four years a member of the Prudential Committee, his sound discretion, his public spirit, and the general confidence of the community in his qualifications for such an office, clearly indicated his duty; and they unanimous¬ ly advised him accordingly.

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This office he accepted in the autumn of 1832; and to its duties and cares and labors he has been unceas¬ ingly devoted to the last scene of his life. After he entered on its duties his health gradually improved; and he has been able to maintain an extensive corres¬ pondence, to travel over different parts of the Union, and visit various sections of the church; to address numerous ecclesiastical judicatories and associations, and many congregations and smaller meetings; to exert an important influence in organizing the southern por¬ tion of the Presbyterian church for more united and ef¬ ficient action in the cause of missions; and to transact a variety of business, highly important, and requiring much thought, and awaking much solicitude; the extent of which can be known only to his associates in the same cause. Under all this pressure of labor his health seemed returning to its former vigor, and he remarked, only a week before his death, that he had not enjoyed such firm health for four years. He has seemed to his friends for the two last years of his life to have increased his humility, to have obtained a high degree of self government, and to have acquired a pleasing mellowness of character. At the last monthly concert for prayer, the deep impression which the unexpected death of Messrs. Munson and Lyman had made on his mind, and the earnest and moving manner in which he dwelt on the affecting event, were the subject of remark by many who were present.

I know not how to present in a more full or correct manner the scene of his last sickness and death, than as it has been kindly furnished me by his respected physician, who watched in the chamber where the good

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man met his fate with the solicitude and affection of a brother.

“Dr. Wisner was taken ill on Wednesday of last week, Feb. 4th. He returned from the Missionary Rooms, supposing he had taken cold, and took some slight medicine on retiring to rest. He had quite a sick night, and in the morning when called to visit him, I gave him some active medicine, which operated favorably, but without the relief, which was hoped for. On Friday morning his disease exhibited all the distinctive marks of scarlet fever, but without any threatening symptoms. Late, however, the coming night, there came on suddenly great difficulty of breath¬ ing for a short time, and a great aggravation of all the symptoms. Saturday morning he spoke and swal¬ lowed with extreme difficulty, and every symptom indicated extreme danger; and at night he began to be delirious. The delirium w7as only, at first, a slight wandering occasionally; but it increased, and became constant, until all the faculties of his mind were obscured by it. He died on Monday Feb. 9th about half past two o’clock in the afternoon, in the 41st year of his age.

From this statement you will perceive that there was no opportunity for any conversation, except what was absolutely necessary, as the soreness of his throat rendered it exceedingly difficult for him to speak. Subsequently came on a delirium, which took away all power of connected thought or expression. .

Yet there was something in the character of that delirium, or rather in the tone of conversation and feeling running through it, which exhibited in a high

"3

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degree the state of his mind. As I attempt to recall the circumstances and events of that last most distres- ing night, I find it impossible to retrace them in such a manner, as in any degree to convey to another the impression they made on my own mind. But I can scarcely conceive of any conversation, that could have been held in the fulness of his intellect and in the near prospect of death, which could have given me so exalted an estimate of the depth of his piety and the extent of his Christian attainments, as his remarks during those hours of complete delirium.

You know how rapidly, during an excited delirium, past scenes are recounted, past labors gone over, and past conversation and discussion renewed; — so that the transactions of months and years are acted over again in a few hours. Represent to yourself our dear friend doing this in regard to the very interesting and perplexing events of the last year, and particularly of his last tour, with all the excitement which delirium adds to such scenes; — and without any of that protec¬ tion which prudence and self-respect ordinarily throw over the expression of our inmost thoughts; — and then remember, that in all this there was not a word of condemnation of the conduct or motives of any one; — not an expression of uncharitableness, nor of censure even, in regard to an individual of all the actors in these multifarious scenes; — and you will have some conception of what I w7ish to convey. At one time he was engaged in discussion with those who opposed his views at the West; at another moment he was in Virginia; at another he w^as arguing in Boston; — but in all there was the same exhibition of Christian chari¬ ty and tenderness. At another time in his delirium

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he fancied he had fallen into a grievous sin, and the sorrow with which he mourned over it, and the ear¬ nestness with which he prayed for pardon for the sake of Jesus Christ y — and he uttered the last phrase, for the sake of thy dear Son , Jesus Christ ,’ with touching and indescribable tenderness,— cannot be delineated.

At some intervals, when his mind was a little re¬ lieved of his delirium, he seemed to be sensible that it had been wandering, and he more than once spoke to me of the apprehension that he might be left to do or say something wrong; — and then immediately comforted himself with the assurance, that the grace of God would preserve him.

On Monday morning his wife, amid his incoherent remarks, caught the words, ‘short prayer,’ though the subject had not been proposed to him during the night in consequence of his delirium; she immediately asked him if he would unite in prayer, and he answered, ‘yes.’ We kneeled around the bed, and during the prayer he lay perfectly quiet.

About ten o’clock in the forenoon, when he was thought to be very near dying, his wife lead to him aloud a passage of Scripture, and was surprised to find that he became perfectly calm. She continued read¬ ing, and he continued quiet. If she discontinued read¬ ing, he immediately began to talk.

The closing scene was most affecting and impres¬ sive. Though the features of the dying man were dis¬ torted by delirium, and he surrounded by weeping friends, his agitated voice was hushed by the sound of the word of God; and broke forth at every interval as soon as that sound ceased for a moment; and was hush¬ ed again, when that was resumed. This effect contin-

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ued for three hours after every other mark of conscious¬ ness had disappeared. What was it that rendered the word of God such a talisman to calm the per¬ turbed mind? It was not the tones of voice of a beloved companion who read; for the same voice had all the previous night been employed in the most as¬ siduous and soothing efforts for that purpose in vain. The same effect was also produced, when the word of God was read to him by another. I could not see that it could be any thing but his deep interest in the word of God; thus showing a mind intelligent to divine things, while closed to every other topic.

He would sometimes say, while his wife was thus reading to him the precious Bible , ‘how appropriate that is; my dear, that is for you; remember that.’ On the morning of his decease he was heard to offer a prayer; and though often incoherent in language, yet it was full of pertinent and fervent supplications, and closed with an intercession for the many mil¬ lions? The sentence he was not able to finish with¬ out wandering, but it is quite obvious what was on his mind. It may also be stated, that when one and another of his Christian friends came into his cham¬ ber, in the midst of his wanderings he would at lucid moments say to them, ‘Consecrate all to Christ. Make an entire consecration to Christ!’ ”

When we view this servant of Jesus Christ con¬ tinually expressing his emotions in the most unexcep¬ tionable manner, in the midst of an excited delirium, how pertinent the reflection of his physician; “How few would bear to have the veil thus raised from all their private thoughts and feelings and motives? How few would be willing to stand thus exhibited to sur-

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rounding friends in their habitual state of inmost character, in some degree as they will stand at last, when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed! What a motive for the habitual government of our thoughts and feelings, as well as our words and actions, during all the active scenes of life!”

This beloved servant of Jesus Christ lived the life of the righteous, and so his last end was like his! He possessed many interesting traits of character, and occupied an important sphere in the Christian com¬ munity.

Dr. Wisner had a clear and vigorous mind. The objects of mental perception were seen by him with great distinctness, and grasped with great energy. His views were seldom confused, or his conceptions feeble on any subject, to which he directed his atten¬ tion. He had an uncommon talent for examining and discussing subjects without premeditation. In pub¬ lic meetings, and amidst scenes of public debate, he seemed almost instinctively to comprehend the subject under discussion in its various bearings, to arrange his thoughts in a lucid and convincing manner, and to present results at once conclusive and satisfactory. He exhibited on such occasions, in a remarkable de¬ gree, a logical and well disciplined mind. His illus¬ trations, drawn from his own observation of men and things, were numerous, pertinent, and forcible. In this way he satisfied others that his mind was well stored with first principles and connected opinions, and that those opinions were well founded.

Dr. Wisner was also distinguished for his unwearied diligence. His mind was always active, and his time always employed. He never shrunk from any under-

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taking on account of the labor it would require, even if it were uninteresting or disagreeable labor. This habit of diligence was formed and thoroughly fixed in early life; and it was a habit which rendered labor pleasant, and that which would have been impossible to others, to him practicable, if not easy. Here was the secret of his success in difficult enterprises, and the ground of public confidence, that he would never give over any important object, because much toil and perseverance were indispensable to its attain¬ ment.

He was also remarkable for his promptness and punctuality in business. His habits of punctuality were constant and inflexible. He was almost never behind the time; he never kept others waiting for his presence; and was never so assuming and indecorous as to suppose, if he delayed one or ten persons, or an assembly in business, on account of his tardiness, or his careless negligence, it was no matter. It was a settled principle with him, to have his work done in the appropriate time, and to leave nothing until to¬ morrow, which should be completed to-day. In all his relations and in all the business of life he aimed not only to do what devolved upon him, but do it in due season; and never to disappoint private or public expectation; never to impair private or public confi¬ dence reposed in him. And such was his well known character in this respect, that every one was satisfied that whatever was committed to him would be done at the time; and that the miserable excuse of forget¬ fulness, or negligence, or delay, would not come from his lips.

He was also distinguished for his careful ob¬ servation of human character and conduct. He

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seemed always to be observing, and always learning men and things. Hence few men could reason and make calculations from a knowledge of mankind more correctly, in regard to what might be expected, and how any proposed plan or measure would succeed, than Dr. Wisner. His conclusions in this respect seemed sometimes to he almost prophetic. And here was one source of his uncommon practical wisdom.

Few men were consulted so much, or with so much advantage, as he. And his advice was not valued merely on a few topics, to which he had given the most attention, but he was consulted on almost all subjects; and his counsels were generally followed. He was educated in the government and polity of the Presbyterian church; but when he was located in this city, he made himself thoroughly acquainted with the platform of the New England churches, and with the ecclesiastical polity and usages of Congregationalism. While he was a pastor, he was very frequently invited to councils of ecclesiastical difficulty; and his opinions bore great sway in ecclesiastical proceedings. As an ecclesiastical jurist he has been second to no one, since the removal of the lamented Dr. Worcester.

As a man of sound practical wisdom, he secured almost unlimited confidence; and indeed it is doubtful whether any man in this country had the more entire confidence of the whole Christian community, than Dr. Wisner. It was well known, that he was enter¬ prising but not indiscreet; energetic but not rash; persevering but not obstinate; prompt but not hasty; decided but not dogmatical. Hence whatever was committed to him, it was expected would be well done, and done timely, and done discreetly; and that

24

his plans would be safe, and his measures concilia¬ tory.

Dr. Wisner exercised great candor and fairness in forming his opinions and in imparting advice. He could converse with almost any one, on almost any subject, without giving offence, even though he deemed it his duty to express decided disapprobation, or ad¬ minister reproof. His candor and fairness, and the good reasons advanced for his opinions and reproof would be too obvious and just, and his kind feelings and good intentions too manifest, to allow the rising up of anger or dislike.

He was also a man of great firmness of judgment and purpose. He did not makeup his mind nor form his purpose without careful examination, and without a conviction of duty; and when his judgment or his purpose was thus formed, he wTas not shaken in his opinion or wavering in his purpose, without the pre¬ sentation of new and strong reasons. He took great care to resolve right, and then he went firmly and with all the energies of his soul to execute his resolve.

He also possessed a public spirit in an uncommon degree. He took an interest in every thing, which concerned the welfare of the community. He was always ready to counsel or to toil for the public good. He felt a responsibility for every thing that affected the public weal to the extent of his influence. He regarded himself as belonging to the public, as living to promote the public good, and render as extensively as possible this fallen world better and happier for his having lived in it. And it was his deep interest in all important public concerns, which probably did more to

26

Wear out his energies, and exhaust his spirits, and hurry him to the grave, than all the labors of any one particular calling. His anxiety and care for objects and interests without his appropriate sphere, were like those of other men respecting their peculiar calling and business.

He had also great completeness of character. His was a well balanced mind; and its various faculties not only well proportioned, but cultivated and im¬ proved in due proportion. He was not essentially

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deficient in any thing. As has been justly said of the venerated and lamented Worcester, and Evarts, and Cornelius, he had a completeness and symmetry of character, and an amount of solid and valuable attain¬ ments, which are rare and uncommon. Where shall we look for four such bright and glowing luminaries in the church of God?

It may justly be added, that our beloved, lamented friend had few blemishes. That he was faultless or perfect, we will not admit; for he was a man. But what is there in the traits of character he exhibited, or the words he uttered, or the actions he performed, which his friends will have much occasion to regret? What has he said or done, which has injured, or will injure the community?

“He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” and by his instrumentality much people have been added to the Lord. His increase in piety from the time he made a Christian profession seemed to be gradual, and his Christian attainments more uni- formerly progressive, than those of most Christians. His religion was rational, consistent, fervent, prac¬ tical. It was exhibited in the habitual discharge of

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all his relative, social, and public duties; in a consci¬ entious regard to the glory of God, and in earnest desires and unwearied efforts for the good of men. It embraced that deep sense of personal unworthiness, and that affectionate, unshaken reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, which were so often expressed in his devotions, and would, we doubt not, have been man¬ ifested more distinctly on his dying bed, had not the aberrations of his mind prevented.

As a preacher of divine truth, he was instructive, clear, energetic, and impressive. He never aimed, in the solemn business of proclaiming the everlasting gospel, merely to amuse the fancy or gratify a fas¬ tidious taste; but to illumine the mind, and arouse the conscience, and affect the heart, and save the soul.

As a pastor he was devoted and laborious; ever ready to counsel the unwary, to console the afflicted, to guide the inquiring, to encourage and edify those who had set their faces towards heaven. He took a deep interest in the public schools in this city, and in the education of the young; and though he had no chil¬ dren of his own, he usually had one or more relatives in his family, whom he was sustaining in a course of education. He left an adopted son, to whom he had given his name, and towards whom he felt the re¬ sponsibility of a parent.

As a friend he was kind, frank, and affectionate. His social powers were peculiarly desirable; and in his social intercourse his excellencies were surpassed by few. He was interesting as a companion, ready in conversation, easy, cheerful, wrell informed; able to adapt himself to all kinds of company; always manly and discreet, and though sometimes humorous,

27

not addicted to levity. Few had more personal friends, than Dr. Wisner.

I may be permitted to say, that after several years of the most intimate acquaintance and intercourse, and after having journeyed with him often, after hav¬ ing been associated with him in various business of the church, and having been engaged with him in the adjustment of ecclesiastical difficulties the most per¬ plexing, I have not seen a more desirable and rare assemblage of good qualities, than were combined in his character.

But no one can know so well his peculiar endear¬ ments as a friend, and no one can so deeply mourn his loss, as his bereaved and lonely widow. To her this bereavement is unexpected, sudden, and almost overwhelming. He has been the friend of her youth, the companion of her days, and deservedly the dearest object of her earthly affections. And now, after five days illness, he has gone to his final home, and left her to know all the loneliness, and solitude, and grief of a widow’s heart. His many prayers, we doubt not, will be answered in the bestowment of many blessings on her. Let the sentiment of the text, of 3'our own selection, respected Madam, be the senti¬ ment of your heart in your deep affliction; “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst, it.” The separation will be short; and how joyous to meet in that world, where there will be no separation, no tears, no sorrow! We tender you the sincere condo¬ lence of many friends; and especially would we implore for you that divine consolation, which alone can sustain your sinking spirits, and soothe your bleeding heart, and dry up your tears, and assuage your grief.

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With the family and relatives of our deceased friend we also sympathise; and would invite them to call to mind his instructions, to imitate his example, and prepare to follow him to his residence in glory.

To the church and society who usually worship in this sanctuary this is an affecting and monitory scene. There lie the remains of your former pastor and minister! You well remember with what clearness and plainness he preached to you the glorious gospel of the blessed God; with what solicitude he sought your salvation; with what fidelity he warned you; with what affectionate tenderness he entreated you; with what earnestness he besought you in Christ’s stead to become reconciled to God! You well remem¬ ber with what fervor and importunity he led your devotions; and how* often it has been most obviously at this altar “his heart’s desire and prayer to God for you, that you might be saved.” You well remember how he instructed the children and youth of his be¬ loved charge, and how deeply solicitous he was, that they should become the lambs of the flock, and early be gathered into the fold of Christ. You well remem¬ ber how he approved himself in all things a faith¬ ful minister; “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”

But his work is done; his labors are ended; his eyes are closed in death, to weep no more for you; his lips are sealed in solemn silence, to instruct, and warn and comfort you no more! He has gone to give an account of his ministry among you; and remember you must soon meet him at the bar of your Judge, to give an account how ye have improved his ministry! And now, as ye are about to commit his remains to

29

the tomb, inquire seriously whether ye have cordially yielded to the sanctifying influence of the gospel he preached, and whether ye are preparing to enter with him into the joy of his Lord! Oh constrain him not to testify another day, that he preached the gospel to any one of you in vain! As ye see his face this day for the last time, prepare to meet him in Christ’s likeness in heaven!

To his immediate associates in the cause of mis¬ sions this is a painful and mysterious event. To us engaged with him in weekly, and even more frequent consultations, he was most tenderly endeared. We have witnessed the peculiar qualifications he possessed for the office he held, the enlarged views he took of the missionary enterprise, the zeal with which he devoted himself to promote the world’s salvation, the wfisdom of his counsels, the safety of his plans, and the constancy and energy of his toils. We ask the prayers of the church, that his mantle may fall on us, and that the Lord of missions would supply his place with another of like spirit and like qualifications.

The public agents of the American Board of For¬ eign Missions and the Board itself cannot but be deeply affected with this bereavement. It is one of those mysterious dispensations of providence, which impress on our minds the truth, that “God’s ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts. His path is in the sea, and his footsteps in the great waters; and his judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past finding out.” But let not the friends of missions despond; the Lord of missions lives, and the cause of missions he will advance. It is indeed mysterious, that three secretaries of the American

30

Board of Foreign Missions should be removed by death in less than four years; while the latter two had scarcely reached the full meridian of life. And there are some striking coincidences in the circum¬ stances of the decease of these two beloved ministers of Jesus Christ. Three years ago yesterday died the lamented Cornelius. His sickness, like that of Dr. Wisner, was only of few' days continuance. Each of them had just addressed the churches in this city on the subject of foreign missions; each of them attend¬ ed the monthly concert in February; and each of them in a few short days was released from their arduous labors on earth, to share the rich rewards of heaven. Mysterious as are these events, let us be silent, and in coincidence with the sentiment of the text, not open our mouths, because God has done it.

To the three hundred and twelve missionaries and assistant missionaries under the direction of the Board the death of Dr. Wisner will be painful intelligence. To the American churches, with whom he was spe¬ cially the organ of correspondence, it may seem like a frown in divine providence. But we say again, let none despond; the Lord loveth Zion with an everlast¬ ing love. He rests from his labors: and one lesson to be learnt from his removal is, not to place our trust in man, nor in the son of man, whose breath is in his nostrils. The cause of missions, we believe, will not be retarded in its progress. His two associates in the office of secretary, are still spared, and have been long and intimately acquainted with the prudential concerns of the Board, and are knowTn, and confided in by the public.

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This event, painful and afflicting as it is to a be¬ reaved and weeping widow, to numerous relatives and friends, to our churches, to the conductors of foreign missions, to the agents and missionaries of the Board, and to the Board itself, and to the Christian com¬ munity, calls upon us to put our confidence in God, to be more diligent in our Master’s service, to do with our might in our Lord’s vineyard what our hands find to do. Let us work while the day lasts, for the night cometh in which no man can work!

“Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.” Thrice blessed art thou, servant of the living God, for thy labor is ended, — thy conflicts are over, — thy victory is won, — thy triumph has commenced, — thy reward is eternal! While we deposit thy remains in the tomb, to rise not again until the heavens be no more, we cannot but exclaim, Thou sainted spirit, thrice happy, who hast gone home to kindred spirits in glory to welcome the multitudes, who, from gen¬ eration to generation, shall go up thither through thy instrumentality, to sing with thyself the song of Moses and the Lamb forever and ever!

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